- Home
- News Releases
- Back Issues
- December FY2024
- ASEAN-Japan Economic Co-Creation Forum 2024 Held
ASEAN-Japan Economic Co-Creation Forum 2024 Held
December 24, 2024
On Friday, December 20, 2024, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) held ASEAN-Japan Economic Co-Creation Forum 2024 at Toranomon Hills Forum (Mori Building, Toranomon Hills) in Tokyo. At the forum, business leaders from the public and private sectors held discussions to promote co-creation in Japan and ASEAN, focusing on the subjects of next-generation vehicles, AI, and green transformation (GX).
1. Opening session
The following representatives delivered speeches: H.E. Mr. Pichai Naripthaphan, Minister of Commerce, the Kingdom of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister of Industry and Trade, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General, ASEAN, and Mr. Kobayashi Ken, Chairman, the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Moreover, Mr. Muto Yoji, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, stated that Japan-ASEAN collaboration is important in the fields of energy, next-generation vehicles, and digital technology and AI, and that he hopes that discussions at the Co-Creation Forum will work as a catalyst for Japan-ASEAN cooperation that leads to a strong common future for Japan and ASEAN and become the cornerstone of new development. (This was read by Mr. Komiyama Yasuji, Director-General for Trade Policy and Economic Cooperation on behalf of the Minister.)
2. Keynote panel
As the world faces increasing uncertainty, ASEAN needs to continue to grow and transform into an important global base for economic activities. With this in mind, speakers held comprehensive discussions on the challenges that ASEAN faces in achieving further development and the expectations that ASEAN has for Japan in solving these challenges. They also held discussions on how important it is for ASEAN to function as a stable and reliable community against the backdrop of the unstable global situation and the emerging divisions in some regions as well as on the importance of cooperation between Japan and ASEAN in ensuring that stability.
3. Session 1: Next-generation vehicles
The ASEAN region needs to realize decarbonization in the automobile industry, which is the major growth sector in the region, while allowing the region to maintain its position as a production and export hub. Speakers held discussions on the importance of encouraging Japan and ASEAN to work together to formulate a roadmap for this purpose. Moreover, they held discussions on the importance of describing diverse pathways to achieving decarbonization and the need to drive Japan-ASEAN cooperation bearing in mind the development throughout the automobile industry ecosystem.
4. Session 2: AI
Speakers held discussions on challenges that Japan and ASEAN economies face, the potential impact that AI may have on industries in the ASEAN region and expectations for AI within those industries, requests for the governments in attendance, and ideal approaches to effective cooperation between Japan and ASEAN. They also held deliberations on the importance of public-private cooperation from the viewpoint of maximizing the value of AI.
5. Session 3: GX
Toward the achievement of carbon neutrality in the ASEAN region, speakers from private companies in Japan and ASEAN held proactive discussions on public-private collaboration in rule-making, which is an effort that is necessary for decarbonization through diverse pathways tailored to the situations of the respective economies; the promotion of transition finance; and roles that the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) is expected to play.
6. Closing session
The following representatives delivered speeches: Mr. Hara Noriyuki, Vice Chairs of the Board of Councillors and Chair of the Committee on Asia and Oceania, Keidanren, Mr. Hirabayashi Kunihiko, Secretary General, ASEAN-Japan Centre, Mr. Imai Seiji, Chairperson of the Japan-Asia Relations Committee, Keizai Doyukai, and Mr. Nakazawa Katsunori, Executive Vice President of JETRO delivered a speech on behalf of Mr. Kataoka Susumu, President of JETRO, who was unable to attend the event. Finally, Mr. Matsuo Takehiko, Vice-Minister for International Affairs, stated the importance of further solidarity between Japan and ASEAN amid increasing global uncertainty.
Division in Charge
Asia and Pacific Division, Trade Policy Bureau